Last week was bittersweet. There were plenty of new and returning champions on the racing scene but a personal favorite retired. Tepin, Queen of the Turf, has chosen to quit racing and her connections obliged. Fortunately, Tepin retired sound. The big question now is, who will fill Tepin’s horseshoes?
Tepin, as one of my favorites, has been covered in many of my stories. As a refresher, she is the 6 year-old mare born to Bernstein and Life Happened by Stravinsky. Bred in Kentucky, by Machmer Hall, she was foaled on 3/4/11. Tepin is owned by Robert Masterson. Her trainer was Mark E. Casse. Tepin, is still currently living in Casse’s barn at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY. Tepin’s regular rider was Julien R. Leparoux.
Tepin won Eclipse Awards in 2015 and 2016 for Champion Grass mare. Those years she was 1st and 2nd place respectively in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile. The November 2016 edition was her last race in a career of 23 races. She won 13 of her races, 8 of those were in a winning streak from 10/15 through 9/16. 6 of her wins where G1 stakes. Tepin finished 2nd five times and 3rd place once. I had the opportunity to see her race locally, in Kentucky, on several occasions. Keeneland is where she broke her maiden. The world got to see Tepin too. She was an international superstar, winning the G1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile at Woodbine in Canada and the G1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in England. Tepin was the 1st American based Thoroughbred to win the Queen Anne. Masterson recently said in an interview, “She was the world’s Tepin.” She raced at 12 tracks in 3 countries. Her earnings are right under $4.5 million dollars after being purchased at Fasig-Tipton’s Saratoga sale in 2012 for just $140,000.
Tepin, who did not race in 2017, had planned to race at Tampa Bay Downs in the G3 Lambholm South Endeavour Stakes on 2/11/17. She had a bout of colic and missed that race. Her connections continued her training in hopes to race again at Royal Ascot this Spring or in the G1 Dubai Turf in UAE in late March. By March 27th she refused a workout at Palm Meadows. Tepin was moved to Churchill Downs and while she was comfortable she had no interest in racing. Her retirement was announced on 4/18/17. She will not be bred this year but may move to Denali Stud for breeding in 2018. Tepin was still winning awards 2 days out from retirement. At the annual Kentucky bred champions awards luncheon, at Keeneland, presented by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders, Inc. and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, Tepin was awarded Kentucky Bred Champion Turf Female and an award for Racing Abroad.
Who will be embraced as the next champion turf female? Miss Temple City may step up? She had to miss Keeneland this meet due to some filling in her leg after she got loose while training in Florida. Miss Temple City may race in the G2 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile, formerly won by Tepin. From there she may make a return to Royal Ascot, just like Tepin. Miss Temple City had a nice workout this morning, 4/24, at Fair Hill going 7 furlongs in 1:27.
Dickinson, is an exciting mare who recently won the G2 Hillsborough Stakes at Tampa Bay, just as Tepin did the year before and I was at Keeneland on 4/15/17 when Dickinson won The G1 Coolmore Jenny Wiley Stakes, just like Tepin did last April. I wonder if we will see Dickinson in the Churchill Distaff Mile?
Furthermore, be like Tepin! Be more worldly. I don’t follow enough international racing but I should. Australia’s 2015 and 2016 Horse of the Year is a mare named Winx. She was sired by Street Cry and at 5 years old she just raced her 17th consecutive win in the Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes on 4/8/17. She holds the title for the world’s top ranked filly or mare and the world’s top ranked turf horse.
It could be any filly or mare’s chance in our hearts and in the winner’s circle. I will really miss watching Tepin race. I hope she does stay in Kentucky where I can visit her and that she makes a successful broodmare. Tepin babies! I’ll be back at Keeneland for closing day this week. While I am there I will be hunting for champions. Stay tuned as it is almost Kentucky Derby time!
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